Gambling Counselling

Every person is unique and the pathway to the success you desire will also be unique.

The first step is understanding where you are currently with your gambling habit, is it controlling the life you desire (Severe), impacting life so so much that you make choices you would not normally make (High), creates thoughts and actions that revolve around gambling and its comorbidities of alcohol and drugs (Moderate) or would you like to change the manner in which your life is imbued around gambling which would allow you to spend more time and money on other more positive pursuits (Low).

Our customer care team will listen to your concerns and assist you to determine your unique pathway to your desired goals using our researched based methodical approach.

Everything we provide is free of charge, no cost to you, but your time and effort to make the changes you want to.

The starting point is truly understanding where you currently are with your gambling habit which can be simply obtained by completing the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) questionnaire, just 9 YES or NO questions.

Depending on your answers it may be worthwhile to also complete the NORC Diagnostic Screen for Gambling problems as it goes a little deeper, just 17 YES or NO questions.

These questionnaires will allow you to determine for yourself what your gambling habit is like and enable you to decide on your next step forward.

You may just need a friendly voice to talk to, or discover “Oh my god I did not think I was affected that much” and decide on your unique pathway through our pathways graph below.

Everything we assist you with is confidential and is covered under our privacy act, see under Governance Tab, and we use a two step verification process to ensure we are only communicating with you.

We will support you every step of the way in the manner that you wish to be supported, remembering it is always your choice.

Call 1300 659 602 or email our friendly customer care team via the contacts page and we can start the journey together.

Frequently asked questions

1. Why do I gamble?

The research shows there are many reasons why people gamble.

The simplest ones are the adrenaline rush to win money, socialise or escape worries or stress.

These then morph into deeper desires as your brain and body associates this with the production of dopamine, endorphins, Serotonin and Oxytocin which assist you to feel happy and alive and wants to experience more of that sensation.

On a deeper level it can come from a childhood trauma which gambling provides an escape from.

In recent years it has been discovered for boys that online game e.g. Fortnite and girls that use social media, any type, which are designed to be addictive and with the combination of energy drinks, which contain sugar and caffeine, hold open a massive door towards gambling in the future, particularly when they have discretionary income and are of age to gamble, which is why there is so much discussions within all governmental levels to address gambling advertising which reinforces the allure.

2. Why is changing my social behavior important?

Every habit and addiction is partnered with a social setting; this can also mean complete social isolation.

Alcoholics use the pub, weekend drinking with mates or sitting at home drinking by themselves.

Gamblers use the pokies, casino’s, race tracks, online bookmakers, even the lotto shop to experience varying levels of endorphins produced by the body to feel good.

Socialising is a very important part of being a human, we seek it out.

However social settings that cause you to experience the desire, amplify it, and continually indulge in a habit or addiction that is causing you to act in a way that is detrimental to your health and wellbeing are not good places for you to be associating with.

Pokies are a prime example of this. The gaming machines are designed to give you a dopamine and Serotonin hit with every win, they reinforce the desire to chase the big win and also not feel the drip of money leaving your pocket.

Pokies are also the perfect environment for people that feel they need to be alone, isolated, and dovetails perfectly with those that feel the stigma of gambling as they can hide in plain sight.

Changing your socialising habits can be difficult and humans are creatures of habit.

In saying that there are so many different socialising options that also produce the same feelings as gambling that are not detrimental to your wellbeing. For example Dancing of any description, anything to do with music produces the same body chemical reaction, in fact even more so as it involves exercise, without any detrimental side effects.

Medical professionals are now firstly prescribing exercise as a means to negate anxiety and depression instead of just handing out a magic pill.

3. Is it really that important to create a support network for myself?

Having different perspectives is an important reason for having a support network, as it allows you to see issues from different points of view.

Therefore, it's useful to have a mix of different people in your network, who can bring different life perspectives, giving us a more complete picture of the situation.

Friends, Family, Counselors, support networks like gamblers anonymous or simply friendship apps where you choose what you want to divulge and with whom.

A support network is important because you are able to express yourself without judgment. Support networks can assist you to feel less lonely, isolated or judged. Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue. Talking openly and honestly about your feelings. Improving skills to cope with challenges.

4. How long will it take to stop me gambling altogether?

Some studies say it can take around 21 days to break a habit. However, this is a fairly simplistic view of habits and addictions that fails to take into account the individual’s neuropeptide connections (molecules that influence brain activity) and the circumstances for developing a habit.

A habit will become an addiction when the brain starts to believe that a harmful substance or activity is beneficial rather than detrimental. This is because the brain rewires the bad habit to be considered an important part of your physiology, a necessity in the day-to-day routine.

For example; feeling a need to have cigarettes to function day to day and feeling additional stress and anxiety when the option to smoke isn’t available. Current research shows it takes 90 days as this allows your brain time to reset itself, allowing you to then master the skills of recovery, and allows time for those new patterns to become habits.

Aftercare is very important when someone has reached maintenance level, it does not mean they are cured of the habit or disorder. Even when someone has reached maintenance, it doesn’t mean they’re cured of addiction. Like diabetes or heart disease, it’s a chronic condition that requires major lifestyle changes to keep under control. As such, it’s crucial that people in addiction recovery make continuous active efforts to maintain sobriety.

Complacency or a sense that the work is done once you reach maintenance is often a one-way ticket to recovery relapse. Aftercare helps you stay on track and keep practicing what you learned while in recovery.

Whether it’s individual therapy, support groups, 12-step meetings or an outpatients treatment program it is recommended to stay in some form of aftercare for at least one or two years after you complete your first 90 days.